Staff have been with me for only five days, but it feels like we are packing a week into every day. When I look around at the young men working with me this summer, I see so many wonderfully different personalities, backgrounds and characters that I know all different types of boys will get to have a wide range of staff who appreciate them.
And what has this staff been doing and learning?
– Barn Chores at 6am!
– Over 15 staff will have their Red Cross lifeguard certificate
– Our Outdoor Living Skills Head acquired some hides to tan this summer
– Our cooks have cleaning and recleaned our TL Kitchen
– Orienteering courses with maps and compasses
– Bird call identification
– Two more Red Cross Water Safety Instructors
– Learning Belaying and Rock Climbing procedures at camp and Silverlake
– How to chop wood correctly
– Using skits as learning tools, not just entertainment
– Witness the birth of two new calves
– Wilderness Trips Skills.
– Cleaning lots of dishes (Work is Love Made Visible)
– Getting our Wilderness First Aid
– Preparing for Staff Week… more trainings, woot! woot!
These are only a few of the things we are learning in our big group of all F&W staff.
On Monday we’ll start eating at Timberlake and there will be only(?) fifty of us.
What I am most proud of is how my staff is working together as a group. When a staff has joined the group late, they are immediately included and welcomed. There is plenty of bouncy, fun energy as well as thoughtful and gentle moments. I know that you will are eager for your son’s counselor to have all these qualities.
I can reassure you that I wish for exactly the same. Several Farm and Wilderness Directors, including myself, will have campers at Timberlake this summer. There were a few different possibilities for who would be their counselors and I can honestly say when I saw the lists I did not mind who my son was with – all options looked strong.
In case you think I might be rather indifferent to this sort of thing, I assure you I can be fussy with the best of them – and I am not ashamed to say so! I’m rather surprised at myself at how easy it is for me to let go and trust these young men. They are hard working, fun to be with, and most of all…kind.
We are looking forward to your arrival and continue to prepare for it.
Tulio